Heads and tails

While in a taxi on my way to meet a minister from the Chinese government I was warned not to mention Tibet. It wasn’t on my list of questions, but there are plenty other ways you can put your foot in it while overseas.
My error was mild – telling my hosts at the beginning of a meal that I eat anything – to which the reply came “so you head chicken’s feet and fish heads?”
But it’s easy to forget that when you’re in another country immersed in another culture your actions and words may be interpreted very differently.
Have you ever made the same mistake?